Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland’s car reportedly hit pickup truck after police chase

Before dying from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound early Thursday in Frisco, Texas, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland crashed the car he was driving into a pickup truck after a police chase, The Dallas Morning News reported Friday.

After the crash, Kneeland abandoned his car on foot before he died by suicide.

Citing a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson, the Morning News said the driver of the truck was not injured. The Athletic’s messages to the department’s public information office were not returned.

The crash occurred after police began pursuing Kneeland on Wednesday night and attempted to get him to stop the vehicle. The Morning News reported that the pursuit was for a traffic violation but it was unclear what type of violation he was thought to have committed.

Kneeland, 24, was in his second season with the Cowboys and coming off one of his most productive performances. He recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for the first touchdown of his career in the Cowboys’ 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on “Monday Night Football.”

Cowboys defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, who co-founded The Defensive Line to raise awareness about suicide prevention, shared an emotional message honoring Kneeland in a social media post on Friday.

“Brother Marshawn, I love you. I wish you knew it was going to be okay. I wish you knew the pain wouldn’t last and how loved you are. I wish you knew how bad we wanted you to stay.

“My heart breaks for you and your loved ones. We will lift your spirit up everyday.”

On its website, The Defensive Line has this statement: “Our Mission: To end the public health crisis of youth suicide by centering the experience of people of color and transforming the way we communicate and connect about mental health.”